Buyer Question / Answer Inspection and Trees

Dear Liz,
I am interested in a property, but I am concerned about the trees. The lot is beautiful, but there are a lot of trees in the yard and in the neighbor’s yard which overhang onto my would-be new backyard and home. I know inspectors usually inspect the home, not trees. How do I make sure the trees are healthy and what should I do regarding the overhanging branches?
You are in luck! In our area a buyer is given usually 7-10 days once the agreement is signed to inspect the property. Although many buyers simply rely on a general inspection, you can call in specialists such as arborists to have the trees examined and provide a solution for the overhanging branches. If the branches are over your property line, you may have them removed just so long as the removal does not harm or kill the tree. Keep in mind, the same thing goes for your tree branches that are encroaching on a neighbor’s property.
Based on the arborist’s recommendation, you may decide that this property is not for you, ask the seller to remove unhealthy trees or nuisance branches as part of the inspection repairs list, or you may even decide that the problem is something you will deal with yourself down the road.